Smith



PATENTED JAN. 1,1867. 5. SMITH. GURGULLO TEAL.

20 fwd 9 m.

nit2h taint gaunt ffire.

JEREMIAH SMITH, OF NEW' MARKET, OHIO Letters Patent No. 60,951, datedJanma/ry 1,1867

,mrnovrnnnr in cnncuuo rear.

TO ALL WHOM'IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH- SMITH, of New Market, Highland county,Ohio, have invented a new and useful Gurculio Trap; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a. full, clear, and. exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification.

My invention relates to a peculiarly-constructed joint, connecting thetwo parts of an expanding annular trough or cup, for enclosing the stemor trunk of a plum or other tree subject to the ravages of the curculio.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curculio trap embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is an axial section of the same at the line :v m; i

I provide two semi-annular troughs, A B, of wood, and having rebates. ab, which overlap each other, as shown in fig. 1, and when in placearound the stem of the tree are secured together by screws, 0, whichtraverse the rebated portions a b, as shown in fig. 2. e The rebates areformed with suflicient play or room for the insertion of an India-rubberor other gasket, D, at each joint, which, in conjunction with the screws0, serves to effectually close the Joints, whether the members of thecup be pressed closely together or not. A cup of suitable-size havingbeen selected, its two halves are placed opposite to each other so as toembrace the trunk of the tree, and gaskets having been inserted, therebates are made to overlap, and the two halves are pressed a moderatelytogether and secured by means of the screws 0. Wooden wedges, E, aboutthree in number, being theninserted between the cup and the tree, serveto hold the former in position without occupying much of thecircumference or interfering with the growth of the latter. Theinterstice between the cup and the trunk being then packed with oakum orother suitable material, the cup is filled-with'coal tar, orothc'rviscid substance distasteful to the .curculio, and the trap iscomplete. The trap being applied on the approachof that season when thecurculio is found seeking a nidus for her eggs, this insect, followingher instinctive custom, climbs the stem of the tree, and'meeting withthe trap, becomes either entangled in the tar, or drops on to theground, to

be again similarly baflled should she renew the attempt. The ovipositingseason over, the trap may be removed until the following season, thusleaving the tree stem entirely accessible to all atmospheric influencesand unobstructed as to growth. 1 It will be seen that my provision ofrebates, gaskets, and screws aifords a cheap and efiective way ofconstructing traps of this sort.

' I claim herein as new, and of my invention- I The impervious elasticjoint D a 6, connecting the two parts of the trough A B,. so as topermit its expansion, as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JEREMIAH SMITH.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. Lumen.

